Course overview:
First published in 1922, James Joyces novel Ulysses is heralded by many
writers, readers, and institutions as the greatest novel of the twentieth century, while
it also enjoys the perverse distinction of being one the most difficult and demanding
books ever written. This course offers students the opportunity to read and discuss Ulysses
closely as a group, using various theoretical perspectives and reading approaches.

Required texts:
Don Gifford, Ulysses Annotated
James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses*

*Note: we will be using the Oxford edition of Ulysses (ed. Jeri Johnson), and though students may certainly opt to use other editions of the novel, they should be aware that (1) as we will discuss in class, Ulysses has a complicated and often troubled history of editions and editorial differences, so there are very debatable degrees of quality between editions, and some (especially the "Reader's Edition" edited by Danis Rose) should probably be avoided; and (2) students with an edition other than the Oxford may at times feel a little lost when the rest of the class identifies a certain page number or detail.

Recommended texts:
Students should make sure that they possess a decent dictionary (Joyce's vocabulary can get a little overwhelming). Also, it would be useful to have a copy of Homer's The Odyssey.

Marking scheme:
Evaluation will be based upon performance on two essays (the first worth 20%, the second 40%), a seminar presentation (worth 20%), and seminar participation (worth 20%). Students who miss more than three classes (emergencies excepted) will not be permitted to pass the course. Students will receive at least 15% of the grade by March 1, and should note that the last day to drop a D3 course without penalty is March 9.

Late policy:
A penalty of two percent (2%) for each day late, including weekends, will be incurred in all cases except certified emergencies. Requests for extensions sent by email will not be entertained. Please note that completion of all assignments is required to pass the course. Those students who have not collected their first essay from the instructor by the time the second essay is due forfeit the right to any commentary on the second essay.

Plagiarism: Simply: don't even think about it. Students are referred to Brock University's official policy on plagiarism, and they are further advised that the instructor has an especially low view of such behaviour.

Schedule

January 9
course introduction

January 16A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

January 23
"Telemachus" and "Nestor"

January 30
"Proteus" and "Calypso"

February 6
"Lotus-Eaters" and "Hades"

February 13
"Aeolus" and "Lestrygonians"

February 20
[Reading Week: no class]

February 27
"Scylla and Charybdis" and "Wandering Rocks"

March 5
"Sirens" and "Cyclops"

March 12
"Nausicaa" and "Oxen of the Sun"

March 19
"Circe"

March 26
"Eumaeus" and "Ithaca"

April 2
"Penelope"

Due dates:
February 13: Essay #1 due
April 12: Essay #2 due

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FURTHER READING

Other Works by JoyceChamber Music (1907): poetryDubliners (1914): short storiesExiles (1918): a playPomes Penyeach (1927): poetryFinnegans Wake (1939): a "collideorscape"Stephen Hero (1944): the abandoned first draft of A Portrait
(There are also three published volumes of Joyce's letters.)